- Harborough Town have won seven and drawn four of their 11 home league games, conceding just six goals in the process.
- Stamford have won just one of their ten away league fixtures, drawing one and losing eight, conceding an average of 2.00 goals per game on the road.
- Harborough Town are second in the Southern League Premier Division Central table with 48 points from 22 games, while Stamford are bottom with just 13 points from 21.
Harborough Town should get the better of underdogs Stamford
Mitch Austin has instilled a progressive and attack-minded approach to football at Harborough Town that has seen The Sullivan’s rise to 2nd in the Southern League Premier Division Central, with 48 points from 22 games. His Harborough side beat Stamford 2-1 away from home in last season’s Southern League Premier Division Central and, if anything, are more of a threat this season.
The visitors have made their mark on the game with some intelligent tactical tweaks and are now an extremely high-tempo, pressing side that likes to get on the front foot and smash teams. With the creative midfielders, dynamic wide players and fluid front line that can operate in a free-role, Harborough are an exciting team to watch and they can make mincemeat of the opposition when their full backs push up.
Stamford, who have seen manager Graham Dury lead the club since his appointment in 2015, are an altogether different prospect. Dury is a pragmatic coach who prefers to focus on organisation, development and grinding out results over expansive football, and his Stamford side are typically set up with a tight back four and two defensive holding midfielders to frustrate their opponents.
High-press Harborough can make life tough for Dury’s side
Stamford are on a run of two draws in a row after earning a 0-0 stalemate away at Quorn and at home to St. Ives Town and a high-press side like Harborough Town could make life very difficult for Dury’s men. Stamford have only scored an average of 0.50 league goals per away game this season, while they’ve only won one, drawn one and lost eight of their 10 road trips.
Harborough Town, in contrast, have an undefeated home record in the league this term, while they recently beat Kettering Town 4-2 at home and drew 0-0 away at Banbury United. Austin’s men have a bit of everything and the hosts’ high-tempo style should help them break down Stamford, who will look to sit in a low-block.
Backing the Over 2.5 goals option at 1/2 looks very tempting given Harborough’s attack and Stamford’s defensive frailties on the road, while the home side should have enough to get the job done. With Harborough 9/50 favourites for this clash, Stamford are underdogs for this fixture, although both sides have won one of the last two head-to-head clashes. They didn’t get the win when these sides met here last term, which adds a touch of local derbies spice to the affair.
